Norwegian rock legends Motorpsycho will be releasing their new album "Child of the future" this coming June via Rune Grammofon on vinyl only with no download component. As the label says, "So if you are in the unlikely position of not owning a record player, this is the time to do something about it." Said record will contain seven tracks and was recorded in Chicago, IL with renown engineer Steve Albini.
Monolithic, the Norwegian free-jazz/metal duo of Stian Westerhus (Jaga Jazzist, Puma) and Kenneth Kapstad (Motorpsycho, ex-Dadafon/Animal Alpha), have finally released their long-awaited debut album "Black science" via Roggbif Records. Apparently said record was recorded back in 2006, but it's taken 3 years to bring it to light.
Bob Haley will be recording their next album in early March with producer Håkon Gebhardt (ex-Motorpsycho, HGH).
Motorpsycho have recorded a track with Jello Biafra for a Norwegian Patrick Fitzgerald tribute record: http://www.myspace.com/440482258
Other relevant contributors include The School and 3rd & the Mortal, among others.
The nominees for the Spellemannprisen (Norwegian Grammy) have been announced: http://www.spellemann.no/
Here's a few of the categories:
Female artist:
Ane Brun - Changing Of The Seasons (Det Er Mine)
Ingrid Olava - Juliet's Wishes (EMI Music Norway)
Maria Mena - Cause And Effect (Sony Music)
Marit Larsen - The Chase (EMI/Virgin)
Male artist:
Bjørn Eidsvåg - Pust (Petroleum/Sony Music)
Julian Berntzen - Rocket Ship Love (Universal Music)
Thom Hell - God If I Saw Her Now (Voices Of Wonder)
Åge Aleksandersen og Sambandet - Katalysator (EMI Music Norway/Solregn)
Pop group:
Lester - This Village (Deaf Ear Records)
Real Ones - All For The Neighbourhood (Warner Music)
The Margarets - Twenty Years Erased (Division Records as)
Electronica:
Lindstrøm - Where You Go I Go Too (Smalltown Supersound)
Mental Overdrive - You Are Being Manipulated (Smalltown Supersound)
Skatebård - Cosmos (Digitalo Enterprises)
Rock:
Grand Island - Boys & Brutes (Racing Junior)
Lukestar - Lake Toba (Phone Me)
Motorpsycho - Little Lucid Moments (Rune Grammofon)
Tommy Tokyo & Starving For My Gravy - Smear Your Smiles Back On (Warner Music)
Metal:
Benea Reach - Alleviat (Tabu Recordings)
Enslaved - Vertebrae (Indie Recordings)
Keep of Kalessin - Kolossus (Indie Recordings)
Jazz:
Helge Lien Trio - Hello Troll (Ozella/Musikklosen)
Mathias Eick - The Door (ECM/Grappa)
Moment - Paradiso (Schmell)
Radka Toneff - Butterfly (Curling Legs as)
Open class:
Annbjørg Lien - Waltz With Me (Heilo)
Farmers Market - Surfin' USSR (Ipecac)
H.K.H. Kronprinsesse Mette-Marits Utvalgte Salmer - Sorgen og Gleden (Kirkelig Kulturverksted)
Lars Horntveth - Kaleidoscopic (Smalltown Supersound)
Best newcomer:
Erlend Bratland - True Colors (Sony Music)
Ida Maria - Fortress Round My Heart (Nightliner/Universal)
Ingrid Olava - Juliet's Wishes (EMI Music Norway)
Katzenjammer - Le Pop (Propeller Recordings)
Best video:
Beady Belle - Self-Fulfilling (Jazzland Records/Sonet/Universal)
Madcon - Liar (Bonnier Amigo Music)
Madrugada - Look Away Lucifer (Malabar Recording Company)
Maria Mena - All This Time (Sony Music)
Thom Hell - My Heart Is Longing For A Soul (Voices Of Wonder)
More 90s indie nostalgia? Sure, why not! Norway's Simon Says No! doesn't really mine the same territory as say, Sad Day for Puppets -- they've got more in common with bands like Culkin or maybe Giant Boar, 'cept that's not right either. Simon Says No! is more muscular, heavier. I'm actually reminded a lot of fellow Norwegian act Cadillac who evoked similar 90s alt-rock feelings with a bit more of a detached stoner vibe. There might be a little Motorpsycho and 120 Days in there too, however the one band that's the strongest touchstone for me would have to be Chavez. Especially on tracks like "Shiver", with its big, beefy riffs and that continually buzzing part persisting throughout. It's a good formula, even if the song itself loses its luster once you get past the immediacy of the big guitars. Too many starts and stops, not enough memorable melodies to latch onto. Still, as demo bands go, I can't complain. There's potential.
Simon Says No! - Shiver
Norwegian artist Kenneth Ishak (Beezewax) is currently at Ocean Sound Recordings with Jörgen Wall and Bent Sæther (Motorpsycho) working on new material.
New Motorpsycho tourdates:
10/12 - Zakk, Düsseldorf (GER)
10/13 - Mousonturm, Frankfurt (GER)
10/14 - Forum, Bielefeld (GER)
10/15 - Beatpol, Dresden (GER)
10/16 - Arena, Wien (AUS)
10/18 - Het Depot, Leuven (BEL)
10/22 - Pumpe, Kiel (GER)
Here's the playlist for this week's radio show:
01. Anna Maria Espinosa - Everyday
02. TALK 1
03. Tobias Hellkvist - Vintervarm
04. The Bear Quartet - Needs vs. facts
05. The Social Services - Baltic Sea
06. TALK 2
07. Kristofer Åström - The dark
08. Honey Is Cool - You're a horse
09. Reeperbahn - Hjälte
10. Voices Break the Silence - The way
11. TALK 3
12. Hebosagil - River
13. Pan Sonic - Lähetys
14. Silverbullit - Only gold
15. TALK 4
16. Josè González - Down the line
17. Motorpsycho - Serpentine
18. NEI - Hello
19. Claws Costeau - Finnuggla
20. TALK 5
21. Hello Saferide - I thought you said summer is going to take the pain away
Reminder: my show on Sirius Left of Center (channel 26) airs Sundays at 11pm ET with repeats on Monday.
PopMatters has a short take review of the latest Motorpsycho record "Little lucid moments": http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/60609/motorpsycho-little-lucid-moments
Motorpsycho played a few US gigs this past week including Terrastock and have now settled into Electrical Audio in Chicago to record some new material with Steve Albini.
This week's top 20 Norwegian album chart:
01. Kurt Nilsen - Rise To The Occasion
02. Vassendgutane - Xo
03. Ida Maria - Fortress Round My Heart
04. Malin - Pang
05. Maria Haukaas Storeng - Hold On Be Strong
06. Hilde Louise Asbjørnsen - Sound Your Horn
07. Madrugada - Madrugada
08. Ane Brun - Changing Of The Seasons
09. Julian Berntzen - Rocketship Love
10. Eick, Mathias M/Balke/Kleive - The Door
11. Diverse artister - Sorgen og gleden: Matte Marit
12. Elvira Nikolaisen - Indian Summer
13. Hovedøen Social Club - Que Viva Noruega
14. Thom Hell - God If I Saw Her Now
15. Ingrid Olava - Juliets Wishes
16. Ingeborg Selnes - The Zoo
17. Kaizers Orchestra - Maskineri
18. Sondre Bratland - Det er den draumen
19. Roy Lønhøiden - Når dagen demrer blått
20. Motorpsycho - Little Lucid Moments
This week's top 20 Norwegian album chart:
01. Kurt Nilsen - Rise To The Occasion
02. Vassendgutane - Xo
03. Malin - Pang
04. Madrugada - Madrugada
05. Maria Haukaas Storeng - Hold On Be Strong
06. Ane Brun - Changing Of The Seasons
07. Lassie N The Lads - Storyteller
08. Diverse artister - Sorgen og gleden: Matte Marit
09. Elvira Nikolaisen - Indian Summer
10. Ingrid Olava - Juliets Wishes
11. Thom Hell - God If I Saw Her Now
12. Julian Berntzen - Rocketship Love
13. Celine - Bæstevænna
14. Surferosa - The Beat On The Street
15. Kaizers Orchestra - Maskineri
16. Roy Lønhøiden - Når dagen demrer blått
17. Sondre Bratland - Det er den draumen
18. Publiners - driv
19. Gluecifer - kings of rock
20. Motorpsycho - Little Lucid Moments
Norwegian legends Motorpsycho have lined up a few additional US shows besides Terrastock:
06/20 - Wexner Center for the Arts, Columbus, OH
06/21 - Terrastock Festival, Louisville, KY
06/22 - Empty Bottle, Chicago, IL
This week's top 20 Norwegian album chart:
01. Kurt Nilsen - Rise To The Occasion
02. Vassendgutane - Xo
03. Madrugada - Madrugada
04. Malin - Pang
05. Diverse artister - Sorgen og gleden: Matte Marit
06. Ane Brun - Changing Of The Seasons
07. Thom Hell - God If I Saw Her Now
08. Kaizers Orchestra - Maskineri
09. D.D.E. - 15 år live
10. Elvira Nikolaisen - Indian Summer
11. Ingrid Olava - Juliets Wishes
12. Motorpsycho - Little Lucid Moments
13. Publiners - driv
14. Farmers Market - Surfin' Ussr
15. Vidar Johnsen & Peter Nordberg - Ord & Øgonblick
16. Secret Garden - Inside I'm singing
17. Gluecifer - kings of rock
18. Madcon - So Dark the Con of Man
19. The National Bank - Come On Over To The Other Side
20. Surferosa - The Beat On The Street